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New research study led by researchers from the Ruhr-University Bochum, the University of Prince Edward Island, Ankara University and the University of Bari Aldo Moro reveals that two-thirds of domestic felines (Felis silvestris catuschoose a leftward sleeping position, offering their left visual field and therefore their best brain half a fortunate view of approaching animals without being blocked by their own body.
Isparta et althink that the substantial leftward predisposition in sleeping position in felines might have been evolutionarily driven by hemispheric asymmetries of risk processing. Image credit: Noah Dustin von Weissenfluh/ Gleb Kuzmenko/ Isparta et aldoi: 10.1016/ j.cub.2025.04.043.
“Sleep is among the most susceptible states for an animal, as anti-predator caution is significantly minimized, specifically in deep sleeping stages,” stated Ruhr-University Bochum’s Professor Onur Güntürkün and coworkers.
“Domestic felines are both predators and victim (e.g., for coyotes) and sleep approximately 12-16 hours a day.”
“Therefore, they invest practically 60-65% of their life time in an extremely susceptible state.”
“To minimize predation threats, felines choose to rest in raised positions so that predators are more noticeable to them and the felines, in turn, are more aesthetically hidden from predators.”
“In such an area, predators can access felines just from below.”
“Thus, their choice for resting in a raised position can supply convenience, security, and a clear viewpoint for monitoring their environments.”
In the research study, the authors examined 408 openly offered YouTube videos including a single feline in a plainly noticeable sleeping position while resting on one side, with a continuous sleep period of a minimum of 10 seconds and full-body exposure from head to hind legs.
Just initial, unchanged videos were consisted of, while low-resolution, obscured, duplicated, or customized (e.g., mirrored/selfie) videos were omitted.
Their outcomes exposed a statistically considerable leftward predisposition at the population level with 266 felines (65.1%) revealing a leftward sleeping position and 142 felines a rightward one (34.8%).
“Cats that sleep on their left side view their environments upon awakening with their left visual field, which is processed in the best hemisphere of the brain,” the scientists stated.
“This hemisphere is focused on spatial awareness, the processing of hazards and the coordination of quick escape motions.”
“If a feline sleeps on its left shoulder and gets up, visual details about predators or victim goes straight to the ideal hemisphere of the brain, which is best in processing them.”
“Sleeping on the left side can for that reason be a survival technique.”
The research study was released in the journal Existing Biology
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Sevim Isparta et al2025. Lateralized sleeping positions in domestic felines. Existing Biology 35 (12 ): R597-R598; doi: 10.1016/ j.cub.2025.04.043
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